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The findings came in a new report that followed NDP complaints that too many key political staff seemed to have no electronic records on the controversial $585 million closures of power plants in Oakville and Mississauga before the 2011 election.

“At the root of the problems uncovered over the course of our wide-reaching investigation was the practice of indiscriminate deletion of all emails sent and received by the former chief of staff to the minister of energy,” Cavoukian wrote.

That is in violation of the Archives and Recordkeeping Act (ARA).

Cavoukian said it is impossible for citizens to hold governments to account if potentially important documents are destroyed.

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“I am deeply concerned about the apparent lack of responsibility and accountability over records management within the offices of senior political leaders in Ontario,” the commissioner said in a statement.

“I am very disturbed the former minister of energy’s office produced absolutely NO records in response to the speaker’s ruling on the gas plants issue, and that the former premier’s office had so few records that were responsive to two freedom of information requests relating to these decisions.”

She singled out Craig MacLennan, former chief of staff in the energy minister’s office, for deleting all emails, calling it “a matter of great concern” given legal requirements to keep records of public policy decisions like power plant closures.

“It is simply unbelievable that MacLennan would have no understanding of this,” Cavoukian wrote. “I find it strains credulity to think . . . no records documenting the decision-making process were ever created.”

MacLennan served under energy ministers Brad Duguid and Chris Bentley.

Cavoukian suggested it’s unlikely deleted emails and documents can be recovered, saying it’s a “myth” this can always be done.

“The prevailing view is that the retrieval of deleted emails is always possible, regardless of how old they may be. Unfortunately, that is not the case . . . in some circumstances, dating back in time, it is simply not possible to retrieve deleted emails, intact.”

The findings are fuelled opposition charges there was a coverup of the true costs of closing the plants — which the Liberals repeatedly put at $230 million — that was orchestrated at the highest levels.

Conservative MPP Rob Leone accused the Liberals of creating “a secret world hidden from the opposition, the media and the public eye . . . people are breaking the law.”

The Tories also renewed calls for an inquiry into the plant cancellations and for criminal charges, although Cavoukian’s report did not mention any penalties.

Premier Kathleen Wynne said her government is committed to “transparency” and is training staff on document retention.

Cavoukian said her probe was expanded when she learned early this year that “staff in the former premier’s office had approached the secretary of cabinet about how to permanently delete emails and other electronic documents.”

The commissioner said she “cannot state with certainty there was inappropriate deletion . . . to avoid transparency and accountability” as McGuinty’s staff transitioned the premier’s office to Wynne, but found “the email management practices of the former premier’s office were in “violation of the obligations set out in the ARA.”

Government Services Minister John Milloy said his office is “closely examining” the findings in Cavoukian’s 35-page report and seeking a meeting with her to discuss it.

“Our government is committed to addressing the issues raised by the commissioner to ensure that situations as referred to in her report do not happen again.”

Cavoukian recommended a directive be issued that a senior official in the premier’s office and every cabinet minister’s office be named accountable for records retention and training and amend freedom of information and protection of privacy laws to make it a “serious offence to wilfully or inappropriately destroy records.”

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